Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov
is remembered for his opera "Koroghlu", based on a
regional legend about a young man who organized a rebellion against
the khan (king), who had blinded his father out of spite. The
plot meshed well with Communist ideology, especially with the
modifications that the composer introduced. For example, the
national enemies were identified as Turks (instead of the Persians
as in the traditional tale).

However, Hajibeyov's decision to write this opera may very well
have saved his life. Stalin was present in the audience when
Koroghlu was performed in Moscow at the Decade of Azerbaijani
Art in 1938.

Mammad Said Ordubadi, who wrote the libretto for Koroghlu, wrote
that Hajibeyov had had earlier plans to create a different storyline.
According to him, they had worked together on it for nearly a
year in the early 1930s - Hajibeyov writing the music and Ordubadi
working on the lyrics - before Hajibeyov decided it was too dangerous
to pursue this theme.

The original opera had been based on "Kaveh, the Blacksmith".
However, such a plot would absolutely have jeopardized their
lives. First of all, it was based on a foreign tale: Kaveh was
a mythical figure of ancient Persia, memorialized by 10th century
Ferdowsi in Persian verse in the "Shahnameh" (Book
of the Kings).

Secondly, the plot could have been too closely identified with
opposition to Stalin's rule. A simple, honest blacksmith by the
name of Kaveh succeeded in leading a popular uprising against
the ruthless foreign ruler Zakkak which ended his cruel millennium-long
rule.

Zakkak literally becomes a monster through the magic of his deviouis
conselor Ahriman. Two serpent heads sprouted up on his shoulders
which had to be fed the brains of two human beings everyday.
Zakkak's spies used to go out among the people to find victims.
Eventually, Kaveh could tolerate it no longer after 18 of his
sons were killed this way. So he took off his blacksmith's apron
made of leather, wrapped it around his spear (like a flag) and
successfully organized an uprising against the evil Zakkak. Obviously,
an opera based on such a plot would have spelled serious trouble
for its creators. Search Ordubadi at HAJIBEYOV.com.